About
Chi Chi Rodriguez created his first golf club from a guava tree limb and a ball from a crumpled tin can, embodying the resourcefulness that defined his career.
Chi Chi Rodriguez, born Juan Antonio Rodriguez, was a legendary Puerto Rican golfer and golf course designer whose charisma and skill made him an icon in the sport. Born in 1935 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez began his journey in golf as a young caddie after working with his father in the sugar cane fields. By age 9, he was learning the game by creating his own clubs from guava tree branches and playing with tin cans. Rodriguez turned professional in 1960, notching eight PGA Tour victories and captivating audiences with his trademark sword dance after birdies. He emerged as a trailblazer on the PGA Tour Champions, winning 22 events, including the Senior PGA Championship. Beyond his playing career, Rodriguez designed El Legado Golf Resort in Puerto Rico, blending his roots and golf expertise. An advocate for youth, he founded the Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation to support at-risk children through golf. His showmanship, humanitarian spirit, and contributions to course architecture established him as one of golf’s most influential figures.
